Carrying case for picture projecting apparatus



June 28, 1938.. F, FREIMANN 2,121,910

CARRYING CASE FOR PICTURE PROJECTING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1935 3 She ets-Sheet l 'LNVZJINTOR.

June 28, 1938. I F. FREIMANN 2,121,910

CARRYING CASE FOR PICTURE PROJECTING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WWM

RNEY

June 28, 1938.

F. FRE IMANN CARRjING CASE FOR PICTURE PROJECTING APPARATUS Filed July 16, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented-June 28, 1938 I UNITED STATES PATENT omucl'.

2,121,910 cmmo case FOR rrc'rmm rnomc'rmc APPARATUS I Frank Freimann,

Electro-Acoustic Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to Products Company, Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation of Illinois Application July 16, 1935, Serial No. 31,632 6 Qlaims. (01. 88-24) Serial Number 740,448, filed August 18, 1934, andan inoperative and protected position when closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide,

in the combination of a carrying case and a picture projecting apparatus of the character described, an operating means for the lantern which will permit an operation thereof in a novel and convenient manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide,

n the combination of a carrying case and a picture projecting apparatus, a new and novel control means for the picture projecting apparatus, by means of which said apparatus may be controlled from a remote point.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a carrying case of the character described, a supporting element for a picture projecting apparatus which will permit an operation thereof at a point externally of the carrying case where a free circulation of cool air may exist thereabout.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part evident to those skilled in the art and in part specifically pointed out as the description thereof proceeds.

For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation, a preferred embodiment thereof.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cover for the carrying case illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3 isa back view in perspective of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, with the cover in its closed position upon the case,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing in detail an improved form of operating mechanism for the picture projecting apparatus,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a framing and hand operating knob removed from the assembly illustrated in Figure 4,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of operating mechanism for the picture projecting apparatus,

Figures 7 and 8 are fragmentary sectional views showing details of the picture film advancing mechanism,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view with parts bro ken away showing a further modified form of operating mechanism for advancing the picture film of the projecting apparatus,

Figures 10 and 11 are enlarged fragmentary views showing details of the picture film advancing mechanism, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view partially in section and with parts broken away to show the means of supporting and elevating the picture projecting lantern.

As illustrated in the drawings, the present invention is embodied in a new and novel carrying case for transporting a combined sound reproducing and picture projecting apparatus which may be quickly set up for operation in a simple and convenient manner. A feature of the carrying case is that, when closed, it will hold the several elements of the unit in a protected manner so that they will not become dam aged or rendered inoperative when transported from one place to another.

The carrying case illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and .6 of the drawings comprises a rectangular housing in having a horizontally hinged' panel II at one end thereof and a comparatively deep cover l2 which is adapted to be secured upon and form a closure for the top of the housing in. Disposed across the top of the housing l there is a panel l3 which supports a tone arm carrying pedestal i4 and a cooperating sound record support. The sound record support comprises an upwardly projecting vertically disposed shaft I having a sound record supporting platen l6 thereupon. A tone arm I] is pivotally mounted upon the pedestal It in cooperating relation with the sound record supporting platen I6. At the end of the tone arm I I there is an electromagnetic pick-up device I8 having a needle which is adapted to engage and reproduce sound from a disc type of record, designated by the numeral I9.

Electrically connected with the electromagnetic pick-updevice I8 is a thermionic tube amplifier for amplifying the sound currents generated thereby and connected with the output of the amplifier 20 is an electrodynamic loud speaker 2|. The loud speaker 2| is shown mounted over a sound opening which is preferably formed in one of the sides of the housing I0 so that the sound emanating therefrom will be directed toward the audience when the apparatus is set up at one side of a room, as would be the case Where the apparatus is to be used for the instruction and/or amusement of a small audience. In a preferred arrangement of this aspect of the present invention the loud speaker 2| is demountably supported upon the side of the carrying case so that it may be removed and mounted upon a suitable baiiie, which can be placed at any convenient point remote from the apparatus, as for instance, adjacent the picture screen in front of the audience. Such a mounting forms the subject matter of a co-pending application for patent, Serial Number 22,887, filed May 22, 1935, by J. L. Freisner and myself, as joint inventors.

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the platen supporting shaft I5 projects up through the panel I3 and is driven by an electric motor mechanism 22 secured to the underside of the panel I3. A controlling lever 23 by means of which the speed of the shaft I5 may be determined, projects upwardly through the panel I3 and is disposed at a point adjacent the periphery of the record supporting platen I6 where it can be conveniently operated. Adjacent the lever 23 there is also an operating knob 24 for controlling the tonal output of the amplifier 20.

The amplifier 20, the electrodynamic loud speaker 2| and the motor mechanism 22 are adapted to be operated from an ordinary house current outlet and therefore the apparatus is provided with a suitable lead (not shown) which carries a service outlet plug. Associated with this lead and mounted upon the panel I3, there is a toggle switch 25, by means of which the current supply may be shut off and turned on without pulling the plug from its supply outlet.

In addition to the above described sound reproducing apparatus, the housing II] is adapted. to also support a picture projecting apparatus. As shown in the drawings, this apparatus comprises a picture projecting lantern 26 having a lens system 21, a picture film support 28 ,and a film advancing mechanism 29.

The picture projecting apparatus is mounted upon the inside of the panel II so that when it is closed this apparatus will be concealed within the housing II]. To provide for a variation in the angle of projection and to determine the elevation at which the picture is to be reproduced, upon a wall or screen, the panel II is provided with one or two adjustable brackets 30 which may be secured by thumb screws 3| to hold the panel I I at any desired angle with respect to the housing II). The picture record contemplated for use with the lantern illustrated maycomprise a series of pictures formed upon standard motion picture film. To facilitate the use of such a picture film the advancing mechanism 29 is made so that it will automatically advance the film one frame at a time. The constructi n a d P ation of this aspect of my invention is to be described in more detail hereinafter.

A film record of the above character can be made up with any number of pictures and used without supporting reels, the film being rolled up in a free coil which can be inserted in the film support 28. In operation the film passes before the lens system 21 and after it is used it can he rolled up by hand and placed in a suitable container. Four of these containers, designated by the numeral 32, are shown as fixed to the inside of the cover I2.

In order that the film may progress freely through the advancing mechanism 29, it is passed through a slot 33 formed in the hinged panel II. The projection of the film through the slot 33 permits it to hang free of the apparatus where it cannot become entangled therewith or curl up in front of the lens system 21 and interfere with the projection of subsequent pictures. I

Should the sound record I9 relate to a lecture or a sales talk, which is to be illustrated by pietures arranged in a proper sequence upon the picture film, it is intended that the record will be provided with a sound signal which will indicate when the picture film is to be advanced. In practice it has been found that a musical note interspersed with the spoken program may be resorted to for this purpose.

Instead of the still picture projecting apparatus, described above, the panel II may be provided with a moving picture projecting machine. In this latter event it will be possible to reproduce synchronized action pictures and sound by starting the picture film and sound record at the proper synchronizing points.

When the hinged panel I I is in its closed position, the weight of the picture projecting apparatus secured thereupon will operate, because of its weight, to hold the panel I I in its closed position.

However, for safety the panel II has a spring pressed bolt 34 which will engage. the top of the opening when the panel II is closed. With this latter described arrangement, it will be seen that the picture projecting apparatus can be placed in an operative position by merely opening the hinged panel II and adjusting it for the proper angle of projection by tightening the thumb screws 3| upon the brackets 30.

As shown, the sound record supporting platen I6 is of a larger diameter than the width of the housing I0. For compactness, the sound record supporting platen I6 is made so that it can be removed from the shaft I5 and placed, together secured in its closed position by two oppositely placed spring clasps 36. The cover I2 also has a suitable grip or handle 31 on the top thereof, by means of which the carrying case may be easily handled.

Before proceeding with a description of the picture film advancing mechanism, attention is directed to the lamp enclosing housing of the lantern 26, at the bottom of which there is provided a fiue 38 through which air may enter and circulate up through the housing; This flue 38 may stop short of the hinged panel II or it may be extended therethrough, as desired. In a modification of this feature, the hinged panel II may,

as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, be provided with a screened opening 88, through which a circulation of air may pass upwardly through and about the lamp housing of the lantern 28.-

As shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the film advancing mechanism 28 is adapted to be operated by a pull cord 40, which terminates upon one arm of a bell crank 4|. The free end of the bell crank 4| is provided with a thumb rest 42' upon which pressure may be applied to operate the advancing mechanism 28 through the pull cord 48. With this arrangement it will be seen that the operator may, when standing at the rear of the projection apparatus and adjacent the carrying case, advance the film by simply pressing upon the thumb rest 42. The bell crank 4| is so mounted that it may be rotated into the carrying case l0 and concealed by a hinged door which, when open, provides access to this end of the carrying case. In the event that through necessity, or convenience, the operator should desire to seat himself at the rear of the room remote from the apparatus, he can by simply attaching an extension cord 43 to the bell crank 4|, as shown, operate the film advancing mechanism from any distance, depending upon the length of the extension cord 43 so provided. Cooperating with the bell crank 4| there is also provided a suitable clip 44 which will serve to retain the bell crank in a retracted position within the carrying case l8.

. As illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, the film advancing mechanism 29 comprises a rachet wheel 45 which is connected to a pair of spaced film advancing sprockets by means of a shaft 46. Mounted freely upon a shaft 46 and biased outwardly by a spring 41 is a lever 48 and pivotally mounted upon the lever 48 there is a rachet engaging pawl 48 that is biased by means of a spring 50 into engagement with the ratchet wheel 45. The lever 48, when inits outermost position, engages a stop 5| carried by a suitable bracket 52. The length and range of movement of the lever 48 is such that upon a full movement thereof, the picture film will be moved a distance corresponding to one picture frame. In order to permit on operation of the film advancing mecha-v nism. as for instance in framing the first picture, the shaft 46 is provided with an operating knob 53, such as is illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. In framing a picture in this manner, the pawl 48 may, if necessary, be disengaged from the rachet wheel of the picture film.

In Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings, there is shown a modified form of the film advancing mechanism. As here illustrated, the operating lever 48 is connected through a pin 54 and a slotted link 55 with a slidabie rod 56 that is mounted upon spaced bearings 51 adjacent the lantern housing.' The slidabie rod 58 is biased to an outward position by the spring which returns the lever 48, and at its rear end it is connected through a short length of pull chain 58 with a second slidably mounted rod58 that extends through to the'rear door of the carrying case I8. The rod 58 is here illustrated as slidably supported upon spaced supports 60.

It will be evident that with the above and the previously described arrangement, the film advancing mechanism may fectively operated when the lantern is positioned at any of its normal picture projecting angular positions.

In Figures '7 and 8 of the drawings, there is illus- 45 to permit a backward movement be successfully and ef-v trated the details of a preferred form of film advancing mechanism. As shown, this mechanism comprises a pair of spaced film engaging sprockets 6| mounted upon a hub 62. The hub 62 is splined to anaxially movable shaft 63 so that the sprockets 8| may be rotated any desired degree by means of a knob 64 carried at the end thereof. The sprockets BI and the shaft 63 are mounted in a suitable metal housing 65 and the teeth of the sprockets 6| project through and engage the sprocket apertures of a film as it passes through the film guiding frame. Mounted freely upon the shaft 63 and within the housing 65 there is a four point rachet 86 which is held in frictional driving' engagement with the shaft 63 by means of a spring 61. The spring 61 is secured to the shaft 63 and is so constructed that the rachet 66 will be released from the shaft 63 when the shaft is in its outermost position. This will permit a framing of the picture without displacing the rachet 66 from its operative relation to the operating pawl 68. Journaled upon the side of the housing 65 and adjacent the rachet 66, is a rotatable plate 88 to which the operating lever 48 is connected. The plate 68 carries a pawl 68 that is adapted to cooperate with the four teeth of the rachet 68 and move the same one-quarter of a revolution each time the operating lever 48 is actuated in the manner above described. In this arrangement a spiral spring 1.8 serves to return the operating lever 48 and the pawl car-. rying plate 68 back to their initial starting positions. Upon the rachet 6B, and adjacent the teeth thereof, is a squared portion upon which a pressure spring 12 is adapted to rest. The function of the spring 12 is to insure a full quarter revolution of the sprocket wheels 6| and in this connection the spring 12 operates to carry the rachet wheel 66 into its final position and retain it there while the lever 48 and the pawl 68 are retracted into position for a subsequent advance of the picture film.

In Figure 9 of the drawings there is shown a further modified form of film advancing mechanism wherein there is provided a permanently connected linkage through whichmovement is imparted to the film advancing sprockets from a position at the rear of the carrying case. As here shown the film sprocket operating lever 48 carries a floating link 13 which connects with the rying case Ill. The rear end of the floating link I6 is pivotally connected to a lever I8 which is pivoted at its lower end upon a pin 19. Also mounted upon the pin 18 there is a rotatable disc 88 which carries a thumb rest 8|. The disc 88 also carries a pin 82 that is positioned to engage the lever 18 and move it rearwardly when a downward pressure is exerted upon the thumb rest 8|. The pin 82 merely engages the side of the lever 18 and as a result it is possible to rotate the disc 88 clockwise a distance sufficient to permit the thumb rest 8| to be: enclosed within the carrying case when the rear door, designated by the numeral 83, is closed. In this arrangement the lantern supporting panel II is mounted upon supporting pivots 84 so that it may be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to close the front end of the carrying case and support the lantern 26 in a concealed position. The supporting panel 7 here shown is constructed of metal and it has 85 which engage the pins I at each side of the carrying case opening and support the panel II in a substantially horizontal position.

In apparatus of this character, it is sometimes desirable to remove the lantern 26 and therefore the floating link I3 is provided with a keyhole slot 86 which permits a detachment thereof from the film operating lever 48. The lantern in this instance is shown as secured upon the supporting panel II by means of removable thumbs-crews 81 located on opposite sides of the lantern. In this embodiment of the invention, the film support 28 is shown as provided with a filmretaining lever 80, which may be lifted to permit insertion of a roll of film and which, when down as shown, will serve to retain the roll of film in the support. As a further improvement the amplifier volume control knob 24 and the phonograph controlling toggle switch 25 are shown as mounted upon a panel 89 located at the rear of the carrying case adjacent the film advancing thumb rest 8| With the above arrangement of linkage it will be seen that the lantern 26 may be rotated back into its concealed position without disturbing the connections of the linkage mechanism as the lever 14 will float about its pivot I5 and the lever I8 will rotate 'freely about'its pivot I9 and permit the mechanism to assume the position illus-' trated by dot and dash lines.

In Figures and 11 of the drawings there is shown in detail a further modified form of film advancing mechanism with which there is associated a film holding means that serves to surface the film upon the framing aperture of the lens system of the projection lantern. As here shown the film engaging sprockets designated by the numeral 90 are mounted horizontally in the housing 65 and associated therewith is a rachet 9I with which a pawl 92 is adapted to cooperate. The pawl 92 is carried by a plate 93 which is connected with the operating lever 48. The pawl 92 is biased into engagement with the rachet 9| by means of a spring 94, and when the operating lever 48 is operated upon by the floating link I3, the rachet 9| will be turned one-quarter of a revolution and thus advance the film one full picture. In order to insure a full and complete one-quarter turn of the rachet 9|, there is associated therewith a pressure bar 95 which is biased about a pivot shaft 96 by a tension spring 91. The teeth upon the rachet 9| are so disposed and shaped that they will provide a series of right angle surfaces upon the face of the rachet against which the pressure bar 95 may rest.

At its inner end the rachet 9| is provided with a cam forming extension 98 against which one arm of a yoke 99 is yieldingly held by means of a spring I00. The arms of the yoke 99 are pivoted at their lower ends upon the pivot shaft 96 and at its upper end the yoke 99 carries upwardly extending arms IOI which carry a pressure exerting glass I02 that is adapted to engage the film as it passes through the framing housing and there hold the film firmly and smoothly in the framing aperture. The glass I02 is mounted in a suitable frame I03 which carries rearwardly projecting pins I04 that engage the arms IOI. To provide for a yielding pressure by the glass I02 there is interposed between the arms IM and the frame I03 a pair of compression springs I05. A spring I09 is here shown for returning the plate 93 withthe pawl 92 to their initial position.

With this arrangement it will be readily seen that as the pawl 92 operates to turn the rachet 9| and advance the film, the cam surface 98 will also rotate and by virtue of its'contour cause the yoke 99 to rotate outwardly about the pivot shaft 96 andflift the pressure producing glass I02 out of engagement with the film and permit its free movement through the framing mechanism. 1 It will also be seen that when the operating lever is rotated through a full film advancing movement the pressure bar 95 will move outwardly and extend its tension spring 91 until a maximum outward position is assumed, after which the pressure bar 95 will move inwardly under the infiuence of the spring 91 and assist in turning the rachet 9| into a subsequent film framing position.

Upon referring to Figure 12 of the drawings it will be seen that the lantern supporting panel II is adapted to come to rest when the brackets 85 at each side thereof come into engagement with the pins 15. When the projection lantern is secured upon the supporting panel I I, as illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings, the picture screen will need to be adjusted in elevation to suit the projection angle of the lantern. To remedy this the lantern is shown, in Figure 12 of the drawings, as provided with rearwardly projecting arms I0I which are pivotally secured upon the pivot points 84 about which the supporting panel II moves. Beneath the lantern and in an outwardly disposed position there is a suitable lantern elevating device by means of which the lantern may be elevated through a limited vertical arc independently of the supporting panel II. This elevating device, in its preferred form, comprises a cup-like member I08 which is rotatably mounted upon the supporting panel II. The cup-like member I08 has an operating lever. I09 and in oppositely disposed positions it is provided with spirally disposed slots I I0 into which project oppositely disposed pins III located upon the bottom of the lantern 26. The inclination and pitch of the spirally disposed slots IIO-are such that when the lever I09 is pulled outwardly from the lantern the pins I I I will ride upwardly in the slots H0 and thus elevate 'the front of the projection lantern 26. In order to hold the lantern 26 against the supporting panel II when the carrying case is closed, the spiral slots II 0 are provided with a short fiat portion 2 at the lower ends thereof.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a convenient and novel form of combined carrying case and a lantern supporting means in which the angular projection of the lantern may be adjusted to any suitable angle without at the same time disturbing the level of the sound record platen which, as is well known, should operate on a substantially level plane in order to secure proper cooperation with the delicately balanced electromagnetic pick-up device such as is commonly used with apparatus of this character. Another novel feature of the present invention is that the picture advancing mechanism can be operated whilethe lantern is in any of its normal angular positions without requiring any adjustments between the film advancing means and the operating means at the rear of the carrying case, and that the hinged panel I I which supports the picture projecting lantern can be freely opened and closed without requiring any detachment of the operating mechanism. Another important advantage in the arrangement of my present invention is the provision of a combined carrying case and lantern support wherein the lantern may be conveniently moved and expeditiously adjusted in an operative position exproducing apparatus, the combination of a carryternally of the carrying case where a natural.cir-,

culation of cooling air will exist when the lantern is in operation. q While I have, for the sake of cleamess and in order to disclose my invention so that the samecan be readily understood, described and illustrated specific devices and arrangements, I desire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the specific means disclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that this invention is new and it is desired to claim it so that all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is- 1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a carrying case having an opening in one end, an extendible support disposed in the open end of said carrying case upon which a picture projecting lantern may be secured, said extendible support being such that when extended it will support the picture projecting lantern in an operable position externally of said carrying case, and when not extended it will form a closure for the opening in the end wall of said carrying case and conceal the picture projecting lantern therein, a picture projecting lantern lated connection between said links having an overcentering action which will render the manually operable 'means upon said carrying case effective to actuate the crank arm of said film advancing mechanism when the lantern and its support is extended from said carrying case and ineffective to operate said crank arm when said lantern is enclosed within said carrying case.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a carrying case for a picture projecting lantern, a hinged support at one end of said carrying case upon which a picture projecting lantern may be mounted and moved in its entirety from an inoperative position within the ,carrying case .to an operative position externally of the carrying case and vice versa, a picture projecting lantern mounted upon and movable in its entirety with said hinged support, a picture film advancing mechanism upon said lantern also movable with said support, a link connected at one end to said picture advancing mechanism and extending to a point adjacent the hinge of said support, a second link extending through said casing from a fixed point at the rear thereof to a point adjacent said hinge, and a lever secured to said carrying case and connected to the adjacent ends of-said links forming a support and an articulated connection between said links,

whereby the picture projecting lantern may be moved with said'extendible support between its inoperative and operative positions and vice versa ing case constructed and arranged to enclose the apparatus while not in use and to supportv the apparatus in an operative position while the case is open, sound reproducing apparatus carried by said case, a movable lantern supporting means mount-- taining a portion which renders the same inoperative while the lantern is in its inoperative position within the carrying case.

4. An electrically operated sound and picture reproducing apparatus in combination with a portable hand carrying case having a main section and a cover section to house both the sound and picture reproducing apparatus when not in use and to support said apparatus in an operative exposed position when the case is open, a

sound reproducing apparatus mounted in the main section of said case and comprising electric sound record reproducing apparatus exposed for operation when the cover is removed, an electric amplifying apparatus located in the lower part of the main section with its loud speaker opening through a side wall of said case, a vertical end wall of said case having an opening therein, a ver,- tically swinging panel pivoted at its lower end in said opening, and a picture projection apparatus mounted on said panel and completely housed within said case when not-in use, said panel when swung about its pivot moving said projection apparatus outwardly and away from said case into operative position.

5. An electrically operated sound and picture reproducing apparatus in combination with a hand carrying portable case having a main section and a cover section to house both the sound and picture reproducing apparatus when not in use and to support said apparatus in an operative exposed position when the case is open, sound reproducing apparatus mounted in the main section of said case and comprising electric sound record reproducing apparatus exposed for operation when the cover is removed, an electric amplifying apparatus located in the lower part of the main section with its loud speaker opening through a side wall of said case, a vertical wall of said case.

having an opening therein, a movable member mounted in and co-extensive with said opening,

and to permit free circulation of cooling air to the projecting apparatus.

6; An electrically operated sound and picture reproducing apparatus in combination with a hand carrying portable ease having a main section and a cover section to house both the sound and picture'reproducing apparatus when not in exposed position when the case is open, sound reproducing apparatus mounted in the main section of said case and comprising el' ctric sound record reproducing apparatus exposed for operation when the cover is removed, an electric amplifying apparatus located in the lower part of the main section with its loud speaker opening through a side wall of said case. a vertical wall of said case having an opening therein, projector 10 supporting means attached to said case and ex- 

